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Animal and Forage Responses on Rotationally Grazed ‘Floralta’ Limpograss and ‘Pensacola’ Bahiagrass Pastures
Author(s) -
Sollenberger L. E.,
Rusland G. A.,
Jones C. S.,
Albrecht K. A.,
Gieger K. L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1989.00021962008100050013x
Subject(s) - paspalum notatum , grazing , forage , agronomy , dry matter , biology , poaceae , zoology
‘Floralta’ limpograss [ Hemarthria altissima Poir. (Stapf) et C.E. Hubb.] has the best combination of in vitro digestibility and persistence under grazing of four limpograss cultivars released in Florida. Limpograss crude protein (CP) concentration has been observed to be low in several studies and animal performance on continuously stocked pastures has not exceeded that observed on the industry standard, ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Flugge). This study was conducted from 1984 through 1986 on soils of the Pomona (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Ultic Haplaquod) and Smyrna (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric haplaquod) series. The objective was to compare animal performance on limpograss and bahiagrass when they were rotationally grazed to 20‐ to 25‐cm and 6‐ to 8‐cm stubble heights, respectively, and fertilized with N after each grazing. Seasonal average daily gain (ADG) did not differ between grasses in any year, and mean ADG over the 3‐yr period was 0.41 kg for steers ( Bos sp.) grazing limpograss and 0.38 kg for those on bahiagrass. Hand‐plucked samples of Pensacola had higher CP than those of Floralta, averaging 116 and 83 g kg− 1 dry matter (DM), respectively, but in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentration of bahiagrass was 581 vs. 613 g kg −1 OM for limpograss.